Milan (AFP) – Mario Mandzukic insisted Thursday he had four more years of top-level football in him as he returned to Serie A on a six-month contract with league leaders AC Milan. Stefano Pioli's side recruited the 34-year-old as the 18-time Italian champions target a first league title since 2011. "If I didn't feel ready […]

London (AFP) – Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has encouraged Manchester United's strikers to learn from Edinson Cavani after the Uruguayan's influential display against Fulham Cavani, 33, showed all his predatory instincts and wealth of experience as United came from behind to beat Fulham 2-1 on Wednesday. The former Paris Saint-Germain star capitalised on a mistake from […]

Warsaw (AFP) – Poland will be coached by former Portuguese international and Bordeaux coach Paulo Sousa at the delayed Euro 2020 finals this year, the head of the country's football federation (PZPN) said on Thursday. "I'm very honoured and proud to become the coach of the Polish national football team," Sousa said in a video […]

London (AFP) – Goalkeeper Tom King's midweek goal for fourth-tier Newport County has been confirmed as the longest in football history. King's wind-assisted effort against Cheltenham on Tuesday travelled 96.01 metres (315 feet), erasing Asmir Begovic's 2013 goal from 91.9 metres for Stoke City from the record books. The official Guinness World Records website confirmed […]

London (AFP) – Manchester City's record goalscorer Sergio Aguero said on Thursday he has contracted coronavirus and is self isolating. The 32-year-old Argentinian striker had already been self-isolating due to being in close contact with someone who tested positive for the virus. Britain is in the midst of a third lockdown due to the emergence […]

Milan (AFP) – AC Milan defender Theo Hernandez had a "false positive" for coronavirus last weekend while teammates Ante Rebic and Rade Krunic have both now recovered, the Italian league leaders confirmed on Thursday. "Both Rebic and Krunic underwent a molecular swab test with negative results and this morning had the medical exams required to […]

Paris (AFP) – Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 760th career goal in Juventus' 2-0 Italian Super Cup win over Napoli on Wednesday, prompting claims he is the top scorer of all time. However, doubts persist as to who actually holds the record. With five goals for Sporting Lisbon, 118 for Manchester United, 450 for Real Madrid, […]

Lausanne (AFP) – FIFA has gone on the offensive amid ongoing speculation about a European Super League, insisting that any breakaway by leading clubs "would not be recognised by either FIFA or the respective confederation" while players would risk being banned from the World Cup and other major tournaments if involved. "Any club or player […]

London (AFP) – Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is focusing on potential signings in the January transfer window after trimming his squad but refused to be drawn on a loan move for Real Madrid's Martin Odegaard Sokratis Papastathopoulos was released from his contract this week, while Mesut Ozil is on the brink of a transfer to […]

Paris (AFP) – As the January transfer window enters its final stretch, Europe's top clubs are sitting tight with financial restraints exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic leading to a downturn in player movement worldwide. For the first time in a decade, the number of international transfers dropped from the previous year, by 5.4 percent, as […]

Madrid (AFP) – Zinedine Zidane insisted his players still believe in him after Real Madrid suffered an embarrassing defeat by third-tier side Alcoyano in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday. La Liga's reigning champions lost 2-1 to Alcoyano, who scored a remarkable winner in extra-time after having a man sent off. Real Madrid have now […]

Reggio Emilia (Italy) (AFP) – Andrea Pirlo won his first trophy as a coach on Wednesday as Juventus beat Napoli 2-0 in the Italian Super Cup. Cristiano Ronaldo blasted in his 20th goal of the season following a corner on 64 minutes in Reggio Emilia, before Napoli captain Lorenzo Insigne missed a penalty and Alvaro […]

Paris (AFP) – Andre Villas-Boas said on Wednesday he would leave his role as Marseille coach if asked to by club bosses, after seeing his side lose 1-0 at home to Lens in Ligue 1. The hosts, who followed a goalless draw with Dijon by losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions Trophy and then […]

Madrid (AFP) – Real Madrid suffered an extraordinary defeat in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday as La Liga's reigning champions lost 2-1 to Alcoyano, who play in Spain's third tier and had a man sent off in extra-time. Zinedine Zidane threw on the likes of Eden Hazard, Karim Benzema and Toni Kroos as substitutes, […]

Manchester (United Kingdom) (AFP) – Aston Villa manager Dean Smith launched a furious blast at the officials after Bernardo Silva's controversial late goal inspired Manchester City's 2-0 win on Wednesday. Pep Guardiola's side found it hard work to pierce Villa's stubborn defence at the rain-lashed Etihad Stadium. Silva finally made the breakthrough in the 79th […]